Northenders (and Walsall fans) Now that the international break (for PNE) is coming to an end, we can now start looking forward again to the resumption of our League games. PNE will be recommencing their programme having played two games less than nearly every other team in our division, so will have two games in hand and should PNE take maximum points from those two games they could be pushing for a top two place when the games have been completed. Of course the common view is that it is better to have points in the bag than games in hand so we will have to wait and see. On Saturday Northend are on their travels again but with a relatively short journey to Walsall to take on the Saddlers in the Midlands. Walsall FC. Both Walsall Town (founded in 1877) and Walsall Swifts (founded in 1879) had been in existence for some time before they decided to amalgamate during the 1887/88 season and bring to an end their fierce local rivalry.The club was then known as Walsall Town Swifts. The Saddlers have had only had two players receive international caps (for England) during their entire history and that was before they joined the football league. In 1882 Alf Jones won the first of his international caps and in 1889 Albert Aldridge won the second of his caps. The club were first admitted to the Football League in 1892 as a founder member of the new second division and in 1896 changed their name to Walsall F.C. The club failed to be re elected in 1894-95 after ending their season third from bottom. The club then played in the Midland League followed by stints in other none leagues. With the expansion of the Football League following WW1 the club become a founder member of the Third Division North in 1921. In 1958 following a reorganisation of the Football League Walsall became a founder member of the fourth Division. Walsall have spent their entire existence outside of English Football's top division and have never won the FA Cup. The club play in a Red and White strip and are known as the Saddlers, reflecting Walsall's status as the traditional centre for Saddle manufacture. Walsall moved to their Bescot Stadium in 1990 having previously played at Fellows Park,the home ground of Walsall F.C. from 1896 until 1990. Like almost every club I post about Walsall have had their financial problems over the years but even so have managed to weather their storms in the end. Although Walsall might be seen as a lower division club, they have had some glorious cup memories over the years and can be considered to be a real football club that are part and parcel of English football, and football could not survive without clubs like Walsall. The clubs Honours are as follows: Honours Old Division Four Champions : 1959â60 Old Division Three Runners-Up : 1960â61 Old Division Four Runners-Up : 1979â80 Old Division Three Play-Off Winners : 1987â88 Division Three Runners-Up : 1994â95 Division Two Runner-Up : 1998â99 Division Two Play-Off Winners : 2000â01 League Two Champions: 2006â07 If anyone would like to find out more about Walsall F.C.s history follow the link below. http://www.saddlers.co.uk/page/SaddlersStory/0,,10428,00.html Last season the Saddlers ended their season one point above relegation and currently hold eighteenth position in Div 1, having won just the one game at home so far. On paper then this should be an away banker win for Northend BUT that is what some thought about the Orient game, so no getting carried away by this fixture then. From reports it would appear that Hume will not be fit to play in this game so Mr Brown has some decisions to make about how his loss can best be compensated for. There is also a question mark about the goalkeeping position, will Turner reclaim his place (assuming he is fit) or not. The biggest question mark however lies with the Northend defending and have the obvious problems been resolved, ie not being able to hang onto a lead etc. As always two weeks without a game can prove to be a blessing or a disaster so it will be interesting to see if PNE's form has been effected OR not. I am confident that Northend will take all three points whatever Phil Brown decides to do, but are you ???? Thoughts and comments are welcome on this thread. (both sets of supporters).
Afternoon! I am not able to make this game (have been to the "Bescott" before though...) so will be hoping someone else can provide a match report... Gutted about the news on Humey... could be time to switch to 4 4 2, although it sounds like they have been trying to use KD in the hole behind two front men in the matches he has played so PB may go like for like. I expect nothing but a win from this, especially with two very tough games the week after. I reckon we WILL have sorted the defensive problems BUT Macekn will score in a 2-1 win for the Whites... Really looking forward to Hudds away, I keep winding my mate up at work telling him we are gonna take his unbeaten record haha! Anyone have any idea how many tickets we have sold for that? Would be great if we can sell out the 4,000 behind the goal...
Also can't make this one, blues gig in Blackpool Saturday night, mind you never seen them win at the Bescott whilst never lost at Fellows Park
Again 1 point OK 3 great, lets hope so. 442 and if possible [as if ] a clean sheet!!! Anyone recall Steve Elliot from his PNE days I'm sure he went to Walsall......can anyone recall other players that went either way? 2-0 to the whites.
Jon Macken but he didn't go there from us, Karl Hawley via Carlisle, can't think of anybody else between two clubs
900 tickets sold as of yesterday, PNE expecting to sell remainder of 1500 allowcation before the game..
Afternoon markos50, I feel that Northend need all three points from this paticular game and should be capable of getting them. With some tough games round the corner this is an opportunity to go into them on the back of a win..
Conner M. recieved his first full cap playing for N Ireland mid week and received a cut lip requiring stitches for his trouble. Well done CM and hope you can progress and become an established International. Reports suggest that PB will continue with his usual formation against Walsall with or without Hume in the team. Daley or Mayor who had a fine game in the reserves against Macclesfield could fill the gap left by Hume if as expected he isn't fit.
Preston is bathed in glorious Autumn sunshine this Saturday morning, a perfect day for football and assuming this weather is wide spread then the Northend travelling support should enjoy their day out. Hopefully that will include picking up all three points against Walsall. Not long now
Superday on the Fylde coast as well Plumbs off to watch Lancaster today could have gone to Walsall but was going to a concert in Blackpool tonight however that has now been cancelled, sods law, but an FA Cup tie should be good entertainment
I know our PNE moderator sems to have taken an extended holiday, but we shouldn't take advantage and use swear words like B*******L.. Off to visit Giant Axe then Maclad, hope you enjoy the game I have played on there once or twice. Nice friendly little ground. Shame about the concert being cancelled but thats lasherland for you, couldn't organise a whatsit in a brewery.... Disappointing it may be but there will be another time no doubt...
Team news for today's game: No Hume for PNE as expected and no Macken for the Saddlers due to injury. PNE: Turner, McLaughlin, Carlisle, Coutts, Proctor, Nicholson, McLean, Parry, Ashbee, Alexander, Mellor. Subs: Gray, Daley, Smith, Mayor, Arestidou. WALSALL: Walker, Westlake, Sadler, Butler, Smith, Chambers, Grigg, Hurst, Nicholls, Peterlin, Martin. Subs: Lancashire, Jarvis, Taundry, Paterson, Gnakpa. Game on: Coming up to the six minute mark with the deadlock still to be broken. 3:11 Walsall 1 PNE 0 3:11 Alex Nicholls gets behind the PNE back line to thump into the top corner. I think that Mr Brown will maybe have to change the shape of the PNE team. The worst start possible given that the defence needed being srted out prior to todays game. So Northend have to come from behind but plenty of time thankfully. Interesting comment by the minute by minute match report: Walsall looking to progress down the right flank at all times. ???? 3:25 Preston continue to push forward but the Walsall back line remain strong. 3:31 Mellor heads over from close range on the half hour mark after Nichoslon flicked it on from a Coutts cross. Great play from Preston and should have seen a goal. 3:45 Mellor breaks clear in a two on two with Proctor but is clipped down with the forward looking in agony. Free-kick 35-yards out. 3:48 Nicholson goes down in the area after an Alexander cross but the ref waves it away. 3:49 Mellor is going off down the tunnel as Daley gets stripped off.. It goes from bad to worse. 3:49 HT: Walsall 1 PNE 0 ............Phil Brown has some thinking and sorting out to do if Northend are to get back into this game. Two main strikers missing now with Mellor joining Hume on the injured list. Second half: Double sub by PNE Mellor - Daley Ashbee - Mayor Today's attendance: Att: 4,834 Away: 1,321 4:20 There is a clear handball in the Walsall box but the ref doesn't notice it - the PNE fans are going mad! Preston have Walsall pegged back. 4:23 Into the 64th minute...still no goal for PNE despite being on top in this second period so far... 4:25 Walsall corner... 4:26 Nicholson clears off the line after Turner is beaten... 29 Twenty minutes remaining at the Bescot Stadium... 4:30 Red card... Walsall's number 24 is off for a second bookable offense... 4:32 Alexander off Gray on - 72 minutes. 4:33 McLaughlin goes centre-half and Carlisle stays up field. 12 minutes remaining for PNE to salvage something from this game at the Bescot Stadium 4:42 Parry now moves further up field to make a 3-4-3 formation. 4:47 Sadler heads over after Daley's shot was goal bound. 4:47 Walsall clear the corner... 4:47 Nicholson is shown a yellow for stopping a Walsall break away. 4:48 90 seconds of normal time remaining. 4:53 PNE corner...last chance!...... Headed wide 4:54 FT: Walsall 1 PNE 0 What a disappointing result for Northend fans and particularly the traveling support. Judging from the report PNE were just not good enough so well done to the Saddlers. It has to be said that this was a very disappointing result and performance based on what I have read so far. The minute by minute match report as summarised above in truth can only give a potted version of how the game has gone. With two weeks to prepare for this game there can be little excuse for not getting things right, even allowing for Hume not being available etc. This and other results of late poses the question "have we been sussed". I think that we have and the signs have been around for the last few games and not just this one. I feared the worst when I saw todays team selection and the formation to be used. Phil Brown HAS to seriously consider other options starting with the 4 4 2 formation. 4 3 3 (or diamond shape) is not working and that is because the back four do not have the protection they should have. It can only work if you have players who can operate in that formation, and IMHO PNE dont. PNE have become a soft touch for teams who attack PNE down the flanks and that is what they are doing and with success as our last results/performances have shown. PB had success playing this formation initially and it provided entertaining games and we were winning them importantly, but PNE were susceptible to being attacked and got away with it for quite a while. Not any more I would suggest so it is time for a change now. There is also a question mark as to why when having two very tall central defenders and keeper we struggle when high crosses come into the box. I was very surprised to find both Alexander and Ashbee included in todays team and why Smith was not chosen as a natural left fullback. Some would also prefer Gray to CM at right back. I also feel that Proctor needs a rest for a game or two, he is still a growing lad and a big one at that and until his body has reached full physical maturity he will become tired after a number of games. Northend still do not have an out and out ball winner in midfield, Alexander is not a ball winner and Ashbee can not cover the ground as he used to be able to and is slow. None of the other midfield players are ball winners either who can put their foot in. Northend have two recognised wingers in Parry and Mayor who bring width to the team and can support the two full backs when PNE are defending, why not use them and not as sub impact players. Teams have now taken stock of PNE and know where the weaknesses are and take full advantage of them. Phil Brown has to address this problem head on and resolve the situation if Northend are to get back on track and stay at the top end of the league. He has to make some hard decisions and stick by them. All is NOT doom and gloom at all, we are in a very good league position and have some decent players available it is a question of fitting round pegs in round holes and playing the right formation that will give the team balance etc. I would guess that Hume was sorely missed today and shows how important he is to the team, Mellor had to come off injured which is bad news indeed. I hope that Mellors injury is not a serious one and is fit for the Blades game on Wednesday night which has now become more important than ever. Not a good day for Northend but must do a lot better. Over to you Mr Brown
Nice friendly little ground The irony in that phrase, the match was stopped fpr 25 minutes because of crowd trouble. Halifax won 3-0 but the result didn't matter. Mellor very doubtful for Wednesday.
Bad day, bad game, bad result, we were so poor all over the park. no way can Ashbee and Grezza `play in the same team at the same time what ever happened to playing football, on the ground, passing the ball ?? hoofball doesn't work
sounds like a bad day at the office. I was gutted with the result, but I have to say the first time we have not scored this season comes as no surprise with that starting 11, and the unfortunate injury to Mells... I think PB has a lot to think about ahead of the next two matches and this is where he will earn his money. As Plumbs says though, not all doom and gloom and perhaps a blessing in disguise with a possible "we are superior" attitude away at Orient and Walsall, lets hope the players are a bit more "up for it" v the likes of Sheff U and Hudds. I would personally freshen things up all over the park on Weds night bar the exception of Turner, Carlisle and Mellor (if fit) and give the other lads a chance to prove themselves bar Hume coming back (hopefully!)
Sad to say, but I think that we have been found out in that there is a soft centre at the heart of the team. Also without Mellor and Hume we are toothless. The youngsters coming through are nowhere near ready. Time to loosen the purse strings or we shall be in this league for a long time. Some might not agree but consider that during our winning streak on more than one occasion we were lucky not to loose.
Not much to disagree about with your comments tommyt, the substututions (Mellor apart) and moving Carlisle up front suggested a strong element of desperation by Phil Brown. Most fans feared that should we lose both Hume and Mellor we could be in trouble up front. The midfield is lightweight and offers little in the way of protecting the back four, it's going to be very interesting what Mr Brown does to remedy the obvious problems for Wednesday night.
